diff --git a/src/app/editor/graphics/graphics_editor.cc b/src/app/editor/graphics/graphics_editor.cc
index 6a9ce72e..0c18e0e9 100644
--- a/src/app/editor/graphics/graphics_editor.cc
+++ b/src/app/editor/graphics/graphics_editor.cc
@@ -104,54 +104,22 @@ absl::Status GraphicsEditor::Load() {
     
     LOG_INFO("GraphicsEditor", "Initializing textures for %d graphics sheets", kNumGfxSheets);
     
-    int sheets_initialized = 0;
+    int sheets_queued = 0;
     for (int i = 0; i < kNumGfxSheets; i++) {
       if (!sheets[i].is_active() || !sheets[i].surface()) {
         continue;  // Skip inactive or surface-less sheets
       }
       
-      // Determine which palette group to use based on sheet index
-      gfx::SnesPalette sheet_palette;
-      
-      if (i < 113) {
-        // Overworld/Dungeon graphics - use dungeon main palette
-        auto palette_group = rom()->palette_group().dungeon_main;
-        if (palette_group.size() > 0) {
-          sheet_palette = palette_group[0];
-        }
-      } else if (i < 128) {
-        // Sprite graphics - use sprite palettes
-        auto palette_group = rom()->palette_group().sprites_aux1;
-        if (palette_group.size() > 0) {
-          sheet_palette = palette_group[0];
-        }
-      } else {
-        // Auxiliary graphics - use HUD/menu palettes
-        auto palette_group = rom()->palette_group().hud;
-        if (palette_group.size() > 0) {
-          sheet_palette = palette_group.palette(0);
-        }
-      }
-      
-      // CRITICAL: Apply palette BEFORE queueing texture creation
-      // The palette must be set on the surface before creating the texture
-      if (!sheet_palette.empty()) {
-        sheets[i].SetPalette(sheet_palette);
-        sheets_initialized++;
-      } else {
-        LOG_WARN("GraphicsEditor", "Sheet %d: Empty palette, skipping", i);
-        continue;
-      }
-      
-      // Queue texture creation if not already created
+      // Palettes are now applied during ROM loading in LoadAllGraphicsData()
+      // Just queue texture creation for sheets that don't have textures yet
       if (!sheets[i].texture()) {
         gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
             gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::CREATE, &sheets[i]);
+        sheets_queued++;
       }
     }
     
-    LOG_INFO("GraphicsEditor", "Initialized %d sheets with palettes, queued for texture creation", 
-             sheets_initialized);
+    LOG_INFO("GraphicsEditor", "Queued texture creation for %d graphics sheets", sheets_queued);
   }
   
   return absl::OkStatus(); 
@@ -478,19 +446,16 @@ absl::Status GraphicsEditor::UpdateGfxTabView() {
         auto draw_tile_event = [&]() {
           current_sheet_canvas_.DrawTileOnBitmap(tile_size_, &current_bitmap,
                                                  current_color_);
-          // Use batch operations for texture updates
-          // current_bitmap.QueueTextureUpdate(core::Renderer::Get().renderer());
-          gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
-              gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::UPDATE, &current_bitmap);
+        // Notify Arena that this sheet has been modified for cross-editor synchronization
+        gfx::Arena::Get().NotifySheetModified(sheet_id);
         };
 
         current_sheet_canvas_.UpdateColorPainter(
             nullptr, gfx::Arena::Get().mutable_gfx_sheets()->at(sheet_id),
             current_color_, draw_tile_event, tile_size_, current_scale_);
 
-        gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
-            gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::UPDATE, 
-            &gfx::Arena::Get().mutable_gfx_sheets()->at(sheet_id));
+        // Notify Arena that this sheet has been modified for cross-editor synchronization
+        gfx::Arena::Get().NotifySheetModified(sheet_id);
 
         ImGui::EndChild();
         ImGui::EndTabItem();
@@ -580,10 +545,8 @@ absl::Status GraphicsEditor::UpdatePaletteColumn() {
         auto& sheet = gfx::Arena::Get().mutable_gfx_sheets()->data()[i];
         if (sheet.is_active() && sheet.surface()) {
           sheet.SetPaletteWithTransparent(palette, edit_palette_sub_index_);
-          if (sheet.texture()) {
-            gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
-                gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::UPDATE, &sheet);
-          }
+          // Notify Arena that this sheet has been modified
+          gfx::Arena::Get().NotifySheetModified(i);
         }
       }
     }
@@ -605,13 +568,8 @@ absl::Status GraphicsEditor::UpdatePaletteColumn() {
       auto& current = gfx::Arena::Get().mutable_gfx_sheets()->data()[current_sheet_];
       if (current.is_active() && current.surface()) {
         current.SetPaletteWithTransparent(palette, edit_palette_sub_index_);
-        if (current.texture()) {
-          gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
-              gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::UPDATE, &current);
-        } else {
-          gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
-              gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::CREATE, &current);
-        }
+        // Notify Arena that this sheet has been modified
+        gfx::Arena::Get().NotifySheetModified(current_sheet_);
       }
       refresh_graphics_ = false;
     }
diff --git a/src/app/editor/message/message_editor.cc b/src/app/editor/message/message_editor.cc
index bbc91209..242d679a 100644
--- a/src/app/editor/message/message_editor.cc
+++ b/src/app/editor/message/message_editor.cc
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "imgui.h"
 #include "imgui/misc/cpp/imgui_stdlib.h"
 #include "util/hex.h"
+#include "util/log.h"
 
 namespace yaze {
 namespace editor {
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ void MessageEditor::Initialize() {
   gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
       gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::CREATE, &font_gfx_bitmap_);
   
-  printf("[MessageEditor] Font bitmap created and texture queued\n");
+  LOG_INFO("MessageEditor", "Font bitmap created and texture queued");
   *current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.mutable_palette() = font_preview_colors_;
 
   auto load_font = LoadFontGraphics(*rom());
@@ -372,13 +373,32 @@ void MessageEditor::DrawDictionary() {
 }
 
 void MessageEditor::DrawMessagePreview() {
+  // Render the message to the preview bitmap
   message_preview_.DrawMessagePreview(current_message_);
+  
+  // Validate preview data before updating
+  if (message_preview_.current_preview_data_.empty()) {
+    LOG_WARN("MessageEditor", "Preview data is empty, skipping bitmap update");
+    return;
+  }
+  
   if (current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.is_active()) {
-    current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.mutable_data() =
-        message_preview_.current_preview_data_;
-    // Queue texture update via Arena's deferred system
+    // CRITICAL: Use set_data() to properly update both data_ AND surface_
+    // mutable_data() returns a reference but doesn't update the surface!
+    current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.set_data(message_preview_.current_preview_data_);
+    
+    // Validate surface was updated
+    if (!current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.surface()) {
+      LOG_ERROR("MessageEditor", "Bitmap surface is null after set_data()");
+      return;
+    }
+    
+    // Queue texture update so changes are visible immediately
     gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
         gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::UPDATE, &current_font_gfx16_bitmap_);
+    
+    LOG_DEBUG("MessageEditor", "Updated message preview bitmap (size: %zu) and queued texture update",
+              message_preview_.current_preview_data_.size());
   } else {
     // Create bitmap and queue texture creation
     current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.Create(kCurrentMessageWidth, kCurrentMessageHeight, 
@@ -386,6 +406,9 @@ void MessageEditor::DrawMessagePreview() {
     current_font_gfx16_bitmap_.SetPalette(font_preview_colors_);
     gfx::Arena::Get().QueueTextureCommand(
         gfx::Arena::TextureCommandType::CREATE, &current_font_gfx16_bitmap_);
+    
+    LOG_INFO("MessageEditor", "Created message preview bitmap (%dx%d) and queued texture creation",
+             kCurrentMessageWidth, kCurrentMessageHeight);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/app/gfx/arena.cc b/src/app/gfx/arena.cc
index 3da1d25f..6e988e2b 100644
--- a/src/app/gfx/arena.cc
+++ b/src/app/gfx/arena.cc
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 
 #include "app/gfx/backend/irenderer.h"
+#include "util/log.h"
 #include "util/sdl_deleter.h"
 
 namespace yaze {
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ void Arena::ProcessTextureQueue(IRenderer* renderer) {
               should_remove = false;  // Retry next frame
             }
           } catch (...) {
-            printf("[Arena] ERROR: Exception during texture creation\n");
+            LOG_ERROR("Arena", "Exception during texture creation");
             should_remove = true;  // Remove bad command
           }
         }
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ void Arena::ProcessTextureQueue(IRenderer* renderer) {
             active_renderer->UpdateTexture(command.bitmap->texture(), *command.bitmap);
             processed++;
           } catch (...) {
-            printf("[Arena] ERROR: Exception during texture update\n");
+            LOG_ERROR("Arena", "Exception during texture update");
           }
         }
         break;
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ void Arena::ProcessTextureQueue(IRenderer* renderer) {
             command.bitmap->set_texture(nullptr);
             processed++;
           } catch (...) {
-            printf("[Arena] ERROR: Exception during texture destruction\n");
+            LOG_ERROR("Arena", "Exception during texture destruction");
           }
         }
         break;
@@ -179,6 +180,29 @@ void Arena::Shutdown() {
   texture_command_queue_.clear();
 }
 
+void Arena::NotifySheetModified(int sheet_index) {
+  if (sheet_index < 0 || sheet_index >= 223) {
+    LOG_WARN("Arena", "Invalid sheet index %d, ignoring notification", sheet_index);
+    return;
+  }
+  
+  auto& sheet = gfx_sheets_[sheet_index];
+  if (!sheet.is_active() || !sheet.surface()) {
+    LOG_DEBUG("Arena", "Sheet %d not active or no surface, skipping notification", sheet_index);
+    return;
+  }
+  
+  // Queue texture update so changes are visible in all editors
+  if (sheet.texture()) {
+    QueueTextureCommand(TextureCommandType::UPDATE, &sheet);
+    LOG_DEBUG("Arena", "Queued texture update for modified sheet %d", sheet_index);
+  } else {
+    // Create texture if it doesn't exist
+    QueueTextureCommand(TextureCommandType::CREATE, &sheet);
+    LOG_DEBUG("Arena", "Queued texture creation for modified sheet %d", sheet_index);
+  }
+}
+
 
 }  // namespace gfx
 }  // namespace yaze
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/gfx/arena.h b/src/app/gfx/arena.h
index bdc2901a..3124ff54 100644
--- a/src/app/gfx/arena.h
+++ b/src/app/gfx/arena.h
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ class Arena {
    * @return Pointer to mutable array of 223 Bitmap objects
    */
   auto mutable_gfx_sheets() { return &gfx_sheets_; }
+  
+  /**
+   * @brief Notify Arena that a graphics sheet has been modified
+   * @param sheet_index Index of the modified sheet (0-222)
+   * @details This ensures textures are updated across all editors
+   */
+  void NotifySheetModified(int sheet_index);
 
   // Background buffer access for SNES layer rendering
   /**
diff --git a/src/app/rom.cc b/src/app/rom.cc
index 656cec26..ab7f891e 100644
--- a/src/app/rom.cc
+++ b/src/app/rom.cc
@@ -206,6 +206,36 @@ absl::StatusOr<std::array<gfx::Bitmap, kNumGfxSheets>> LoadAllGraphicsData(
       graphics_sheets[i].Create(gfx::kTilesheetWidth, gfx::kTilesheetHeight,
                                 gfx::kTilesheetDepth, converted_sheet);
       
+      // Apply default palette based on sheet index to prevent white sheets
+      // This ensures graphics are visible immediately after loading
+      if (!rom.palette_group().empty()) {
+        gfx::SnesPalette default_palette;
+        
+        if (i < 113) {
+          // Overworld/Dungeon graphics - use dungeon main palette
+          auto palette_group = rom.palette_group().dungeon_main;
+          if (palette_group.size() > 0) {
+            default_palette = palette_group[0];
+          }
+        } else if (i < 128) {
+          // Sprite graphics - use sprite palettes  
+          auto palette_group = rom.palette_group().sprites_aux1;
+          if (palette_group.size() > 0) {
+            default_palette = palette_group[0];
+          }
+        } else {
+          // Auxiliary graphics - use HUD/menu palettes
+          auto palette_group = rom.palette_group().hud;
+          if (palette_group.size() > 0) {
+            default_palette = palette_group.palette(0);
+          }
+        }
+        
+        // Apply palette if we have one
+        if (!default_palette.empty()) {
+          graphics_sheets[i].SetPalette(default_palette);
+        }
+      }
 
       for (int j = 0; j < graphics_sheets[i].size(); ++j) {
         rom.mutable_graphics_buffer()->push_back(graphics_sheets[i].at(j));